Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

4005 Cases

If you gig out your 4005 like I do, you may want one of these.

They are NOT identical to the original ones, but they will save a lot of ware and tare on your now high dollar cases.

POTR has a bunch of them in stock. I purchased two of them.

Just to say it; I have no financial interest nor do I profit on these, just passing the word out.

I have been using a Chinese-clone case like that for my larger basses. A 4005 fits perfectly in it, without moving about inside. It has the vinyl "fake leather" ends (which is how you know it was made in China) and costs the dealer about $45 apiece. I pay $65 each for them, and they are thicker and heavier than a different clone that I have seen for $25 cost to the dealer. The only difference is that it has a Fenderish tweed exterior, not black Tolex. For that kind of price, though, it is literally a throw-away case if it gets scratched or scarred. High quality brass latches, four of them.

I also have been buying real Rick cases that fit the 4001, not sure about 4005 though. Cost about $125, identical to the MF ones they sell for $199 or more.

What does POTR charge for these? Do they have vinyl ends or real leather? I would pay handsomely for real leather ends. I am having some custom cases made in Texas with real leather ends by a bootmaker guy, and they will be the "show cases" for my high-dollar Ricks anyway. I would buy some from Chris simply because of the good will he earned from me because he so unselfishly and graciously hosted the MARFs for us

Elys....Would you like me to ship the Bass to you or bring it to the So. Calif. Rick Fest in August? You know it has very beautiful highly figured Maple for the top. You Lucky Dog!

Hi Dale! I just got an email from Ed, saying that he had talked to you and you said it would be no problem I can't wait to see photos if you have any, my email address is still <[email protected]>. I bet is is gonna be jaw-dropping gorgeous!!

Ed said he is going to drive a custom case down to you that has a humidor in it and such, and if it is OK then just ship in that case with the standard plastic peanuts or bubble-wrap inside the cardboard box - whatever is your standard way you prefer. I will of course FedEx you a check first, etc.

I don't know for certain that I will be at SoCal, but I am trying every way I can to get free that weekend so I can fly out. I really hope I can, so I can meet you and everyone else in-person on the West Coast So far MARF II was the only confluence that I have attended, and it was a blast!

Elys, who's making the cases for you in Texas, and where in Texas are they? I'd like to see if I could get a new case for my'68 4001. I'd be even happier if the guy could restore the original case. Thanks for your info.

Chris told me all about these cases last time I was there. It's ashame he couldn't have 'em done up in silver, but it's a no-no apparently.

I have the original case to my '66 4005 and the thing is in absolute shambles. No longer usuable. Dale, when it goes to you (Monday), i'm going to ship it in a very heavy duty gig bag.

"What does POTR charge for these?"

Elys I am sure Chris will give you a good deal as he did me.

"Do they have vinyl ends or real leather?"

I think that it is leather, however I am have a hard time confirming that. Even to the touch, I cannot tell for sure.

Javier, it is a relative who is doing it as a favor for me, and I know he does not want to do them commercially - not after I got reamed on the phone last week about how freaking hard he said it was for him to punch holes through the leather and the heavy-duty wood he has underneath to sew it like the original. I will ask though, after he cools down and he gets the $500 each that I agreed to pay for six of them

Hey John, how shambley is shambles? Could I buy it from you and restore it with new Tolex and re-glued wooden structure? Is the flocking inside still there?

I also never heard back from you via email about the 4004 TR....

Elys, I re-sent the emails. Several times! They're getting lost somewhere in the void, possibly around Camden, NJ.

About the case - the two side latches are kaput, there's some nicely reliced duct tape on the handle, and the leather strips on the side are hanging on for dear life. Not sure what flocking is though?

Oh, I mean that fuzzy blue stuff inside, the plush lining, that's all Sorry for the inaccurate term Leather ends are no problem, I can get restoral leather and restitch them. A sailmaker in Annapolis MD will do that for me, if I supply the leather. Ditto for the handle. There is a place that can sell me latches too on the Web...

I need to go see if you are getting caught in the spam filters - lots of Apple addys got blocked last month and this month because Apple servers got put on some RBLs, and IIRC you used to use a "mac.com" address.

I had new latches put on my '67 4005 case by a local luggage shop, so I would think the same is possible in NY.

Thanks Jeff, i'll have to take it over to one soon.

Elys, email sent (in a minute or two).

Elys, I've been gone a few days, so sorry it's taken so long to answer. Most of the case is ok, it's just the right end of the case that needs fixing along with one of the latches. The leather ends could definitely could stand replacing, but what I am most concerned about is the structural integrity of the case. I want to keep the original since it is for a 1968 4001. Is this person by chance in Houston? I'll be up in Houston in about 2 or 3 weeks. If he's in the area maybe I could bring the case for him to check out. Oh, and IIRC, JH mentioned that that fuzzy case lining was called "whore house plush."

Oh, yeah, that's made by the Whore House Plush Case Lining Company at 35 Soi Cowboy in Bangkok, Thailand.

HAR!